Today's news

THE DARWIN DEBATE: Critics opposed to teaching evolution as scientific fact fill a public hearing in Orlando and demand that the State Board of Education relent on proposed science standards. The fight heads to Tallahassee next week, where the evolution opponents want time to address the board. For another take, see this Florida Baptist Witness story.

OK TO TASE: The University of Florida will still allow its police to use Tasers under policies written after a controversial stun gun incident, the AP reports.

ACCUSATION UNFOUNDED: The Clay school district finds that a teacher accused of making slurs against Muslims didn't do it, the Florida Times-Union reports.

LIKELY TO FAIL: Even if Florida students and schools ace the FCAT, they probably won't meet federal No Child Left Behind standards because of differences in the way the two measures work, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

DID THE FRENZY SUBSIDE? The Miami Herald finds more classrooms in Broward have given up the kill and drill method leading to FCAT. But a teacher survey shows 58 percent think there's more hype given to the test than ever before.

SPEAKING OF SCIENCE: Brevard schools plan to adopt a four-course science research curriculum dubbed "Experimental Design," not to be confused with intelligent design, Florida Today reports.

BIG RAISE: The Lee School Board is poised to increase the superintendent's pay package from $185,000 to as much as $250,000, the goal being to keep the current leader who is seeking a new job or making the post attractive to whoever succeeds him, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

IF THEY LAUGH, THEY'LL READ: Children's author Jon Scieszka, the nation's first ambassador for young people's literature, goes on a road show promoting humor as a way to get more kids reading, USA Today reports. (The story includes some of Scieszska's book recommendations.)

About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.